The most comprehensive Raspberry Pi simulator for embedded systems development, IoT prototyping, and educational purposes. Build, test, and debug your Raspberry Pi projects without physical hardware using our advanced physics-based simulation engine.
- π° Cost-Effective: Develop without buying expensive hardware components
- β‘ Rapid Prototyping: Test ideas instantly with virtual breadboards and components
- π¬ Advanced Testing: Deterministic simulation with record/replay capabilities
- π Educational: Perfect for learning embedded systems and IoT development
- π Production-Ready: CI/CD integration for automated testing pipelines
- π Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- GPIO Control: All 40 pins with accurate electrical characteristics
- Communication Protocols: I2C, SPI, UART, 1-Wire with protocol analysis
- PWM & Timing: Precise timing simulation for servo control and PWM signals
- Pin Configuration: Dynamic pin mode switching (input/output/PWM/I2C/SPI)
- Sensors: DHT22, BME280, MPU6050, ultrasonic, light sensors, accelerometers
- Displays: LCD, OLED, 7-segment, LED matrices, TFT displays
- Actuators: Servo motors, stepper motors, DC motors, relays, buzzers
- Communication: WiFi modules, Bluetooth, LoRa, cellular modems
- Power Management: Battery simulation, voltage regulators, power monitoring
- Interactive Breadboard: Drag-and-drop component placement with realistic wiring
- Real-time Monitoring: Live voltage/current measurements and signal visualization
- Logic Analyzer: Built-in oscilloscope and protocol decoder tools
- 3D Physics Engine: Realistic environmental simulation for sensor testing
- Python: Full RPi.GPIO and CircuitPython compatibility
- C/C++: WiringPi and BCM library support
- Node.js: Johnny-Five and Pi-GPIO integration
- Sandboxed Execution: Safe code execution with resource limits
# Install via pip (recommended)
pip install rpi-simulator
# Or install from source
git clone https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator.git
cd RPi-Simulator
pip install -e .# Initialize a new IoT project
pistudio init weather-station --template iot-sensors
# Add environmental sensors
pistudio add bme280 --i2c-address 0x76 --name "temp_sensor"
pistudio add dht22 --gpio 4 --name "humidity_sensor"
# Connect an OLED display
pistudio add ssd1306 --i2c-address 0x3C --name "display"
# Wire components visually or via CLI
pistudio connect GPIO18 LED1:anode
pistudio connect GPIO4 DHT22:data
# Run your simulation
pistudio run --gui# main.py - Classic Raspberry Pi LED blink
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
LED_PIN = 18
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(LED_PIN, GPIO.OUT)
try:
while True:
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.HIGH)
time.sleep(1)
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.LOW)
time.sleep(1)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
GPIO.cleanup()# Run automated tests
pistudio test --headless --report junit.xml
# API server for remote development
pistudio serve --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000- Event-Driven Architecture: Deterministic timing with microsecond precision
- Physics Engine: 3D physics simulation for realistic sensor behavior
- Signal Processing: Accurate analog/digital signal simulation
- Memory Management: Efficient handling of large-scale IoT simulations
- Desktop GUI: Modern PyQt6 interface with dark/light themes
- Web Interface: Browser-based development environment
- REST API: Complete programmatic control via FastAPI
- CLI Tools: Command-line interface for automation and scripting
| Model | GPIO Pins | Simulation Accuracy | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi 4B | 40-pin | 99.9% | β Full Support |
| Pi 3B/3B+ | 40-pin | 99.9% | β Full Support |
| Pi Zero 2W | 40-pin | 99.9% | β Full Support |
| Pi Pico | 26-pin | 95% | π§ Beta |
- I2C: Multi-master support, clock stretching, 10-bit addressing
- SPI: Full-duplex, configurable clock polarity/phase
- UART: Hardware flow control, baud rate detection
- 1-Wire: Temperature sensors, device enumeration
- PWM: Hardware and software PWM with DMA support
- Computer Science Courses: Teach embedded systems without hardware costs
- STEM Education: Interactive electronics and programming lessons
- Certification Prep: Practice for Raspberry Pi Foundation certifications
- Workshop Training: Scalable training environments for large groups
- IoT Prototyping: Rapid development of connected device solutions
- Embedded Testing: Automated testing pipelines for production code
- Algorithm Development: Test control algorithms before hardware deployment
- System Integration: Validate complex multi-device interactions
- Academic Research: Reproducible experiments in embedded systems
- Algorithm Testing: Machine learning model validation on simulated sensors
- Protocol Development: Test new communication protocols safely
- Performance Analysis: Benchmark code performance across different scenarios
| Metric | RPi Simulator | Physical Hardware |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Time | < 30 seconds | 15-30 minutes |
| Component Cost | $0 | $50-500+ |
| Iteration Speed | Instant | Minutes |
| Debugging Capability | Full visibility | Limited |
| Reproducibility | 100% | Variable |
- Python 3.11+
- Poetry (package manager)
- Git
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator.git
cd RPi-Simulator
# Install dependencies
poetry install
# Install pre-commit hooks
poetry run pre-commit install
# Run desktop application
poetry run python -m apps.desktop
# Start headless server
poetry run python -m apps.server --reload
# Run test suite
poetry run pytest --cov=packages/RPi-Simulator/
βββ packages/ # Core simulation packages
β βββ sim_core/ # Event system and timing
β βββ devices/ # Virtual device library
β βββ peripherals/ # I2C, SPI, GPIO implementations
β βββ physics_engine/ # 3D physics simulation
β βββ pistudio/ # Main application logic
βββ apps/ # User interfaces
β βββ desktop/ # PyQt6 GUI application
β βββ server/ # FastAPI web server
βββ examples/ # Sample projects and tutorials
βββ tests/ # Comprehensive test suite
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature) - Make your changes with tests
- Run the test suite (
poetry run pytest) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add amazing feature') - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/amazing-feature) - Open a Pull Request
- β Core GPIO simulation
- β Basic device library
- β Desktop GUI
- β Python code execution
- π§ Advanced physics engine
- π§ Machine learning integration
- π§ Cloud connectivity simulation
- π§ Mobile app companion
- π Multi-board simulation
- π Real-time collaboration
- π Advanced debugging tools
- π Custom silicon simulation
- Documentation: Full documentation and tutorials
- Discord: Join our developer community
- Issues: Report bugs and request features
- Discussions: Community Q&A and showcase
Sherin Joseph Roy is the Co-founder and Head of Products at DeepMost AI, where he leads the development of enterprise AI systems that connect data, automation, and intelligence to solve real-world challenges.
Passionate about entrepreneurship, startups, and artificial intelligence, Sherin focuses on creating scalable, human-centered AI solutions that redefine how organizations think, decide, and grow. His expertise lies in bridging research and application, transforming cutting-edge AI research into practical enterprise solutions.
- π Website: sherinjosephroy.link
- π¦ X (Twitter): @SherinSEF
- πΌ LinkedIn: sherin-roy-deepmost
- π Mastodon: @sherinjoesphroy
- π» GitHub: @Sherin-SEF-AI
- π§ Contact: Contact Form
π Based in: Bangalore, India (Asia/Kolkata timezone)
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.
If you use RPi Simulator in your research, educational materials, or commercial projects, please cite:
@software{rpi_simulator_2024,
title={RPi Simulator: Advanced Raspberry Pi Development Environment},
author={Roy, Sherin Joseph},
year={2024},
url={https://github.com/Sherin-SEF-AI/RPi-Simulator},
organization={DeepMost AI},
address={Bangalore, India},
note={Open-source Raspberry Pi simulation platform for embedded systems development}
}Special thanks to the open-source community and contributors who have made this project possible. RPi Simulator builds upon the excellent work of the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the broader embedded systems community.
β Star this repository if you find RPi Simulator useful for your projects!
Developed with β€οΈ by Sherin Joseph Roy | Co-founder @ DeepMost AI
Bridging AI Research and Real-World Applications
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